The NTFL’s best players for the 2021-22 season by the stats revealed

Wanderers’ elite defensive kicking, Nightcliff’s multifaceted forward line and an all-conquering ruckman were statistical standouts of the Men’s Premier League.

Who were your club’s best performed players in season 2021-22?

It’s a matter of opinion of course but NT News has dug up the numbers which reveal the players who clearly shone across the key benchmarks of disposals, marks, goals, kicking efficiency, inside 50s, rebound 50s, clearances and tackles.

Some familiar names popped up, like Darwin Buffaloes jet Jarrod Stokes who charted across all but one of those categories, as Palmerston gun Eric Guthrie led his club in disposals, marks, inside 50s, tackles and clearances.

Meanwhile, Nightcliff’s even spread of goalkickers and possession winners, and Wanderers’ clean defence by foot, also stood out.

SEE WHO MADE YOUR CLUB’S TOP FIVES AND OVERALL MVP

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Darwin Buffaloes

It should be no surprise Buffs star skipper Jarrod Stokes makes the top five for all but one of eight benchmarks highlighted by NT News in the 2021-22 season.

That includes top placings for most disposals (first), clearances (second), insides 50s (first) and marks (third), while also making the list for goals (fifth), tackles (fifth) and rebound 50s (fifth).

Ruckman Ben Archard won his club’s best and fairest and the NT News player of the year award. Picture: Supplied.

Star ruckman, Buffaloes best and fairest and NT News player of the year winner Ben Archard also proved his versatility by collecting the club’s second highest amount of disposals and clearances, while recording the highest number of taps for the competition (561), almost twice as his nearest opponent, Patrick Gallow (298).

However, the stats showed the Buffs perhaps lacked a focal point up forward this year, with Hassan Ahmat-Watkins’ 20 from eight games the competition’s lowest for leading club goalkickers.

Disposals

Jarrod Stokes: 273

Ben Archard: 238

Kevin Maroney 216

Bradley Stokes: 213

Thomas Clarke: 208

Marks

Kevin Maroney 66

Jackson Clark 64

Ben Archard 63

Jarrod Stokes 62

Lachlan McKenzie 58

Goals

Hassan Ahmat-Watkins 20

Adam Sambono 15

Jayden Kickett 12

Thomas Baulch 12

Jarrod Stokes 10

Kicking efficiency

Lachlan McKenzie 77 per cent

Tyrone Bean 75 per cent

Kevin Maroney 73 per cent

Brad Stokes 72 per cent

Jackson Clark 70 per cent

Inside 50s

Jarrod Stokes 68

Thomas Clarke 45

Patrick Boles 45

Charles Sharples 39

Ben Archard 35

Rebound 50s

Brad Stokes 42

Lachlan McKenzie 41

Kevin Maroney 41

Cade Abala 35

Jarrod Stokes 31

Jarrod Stokes was a standout in almost every key statistical area. Picture: Che Chorley.

Clearances

Ben Archard 63

Jarrod Stokes 59

Patrick Boles 37

Thomas Clarke 32

Gareth Remfrey 29

Tackles

Charles Shraples 40

Brad Stokes 36

Luke Roberts 35

Tim Eldridge 34

Jarod Stokes 33

MVP: Ben Archard

Nightcliff

In the middle was where the reigning premiers did a lot of their damage in 2021-22, boasting easily the competition’s most prolific midfield, with four players within the top six.

Brodie Filo (357) collected the highest number of disposals in the NTFL, closely followed by Daniel Bowles (333), Sam Harper (320) and Shaun Wilson (316).

Filo (first), Wilson (third) and Bowles (fourth) also charted high for the club when it came to distributing the ball inside 50.

It also had an even spread of goalkickers with Cameron Ilett (32 goals), Kyle Emery (30), Trent Melville (28) and Wilson (23) slotting healthy numbers.

Disposals

Brodie Filo 357

Daniel Bowles 333

Sam Harper 320

Shaun Wilson 316

Ryan Nyhuis 223

Marks

Shaun Wilson 83

Daniel Bowles 75

Cameron Ilett 75

Ryan Nyhuis 64

Sam Harper 63

Goals

Cameron Ilett 32

Kyle Emery 30

Trent Melville 28

Shaun Wilson 23

Thomas North 16

Liam Holt-Fitz 16

Kicking efficiency

Darcy Keast 87 per cent

Simon Deery 81 per cent

Ryan Nyhius 80 per cent

Joel Budrick 73 per cent

Daniel Bowles 72 per cent

Inside 50s

Brodie Filo 64

Bailey Edwards 60

Shaun Wilson 53

Daniel Bowles 49

Sam Harper 45

Rebound 50s

Daniels Bowles 91

Nathan Brown 52

Ryan Nyhuis 47

Simon Deery 37

Darcy Keast 27

Nightcliff’s Shaun Wilson charges after the ball against Palmerston Magpies in Round seven. Picture: Felicity Elliott.

Clearances

Sam Harper 50

Brodie Filo 49

Bailey Edwards 41

Thomas North 38

Shaun Wilson 28

Tackles

Phillip Wills 41

Nathan Brown 36

Jamie Jones 36

Sam Harper 35

Liam Holt-Fitz 33

MVP: Shaun Wilson

St Mary’s

Two names standout in particular at the Green Machine – Nate Paredes and Jackson Calder – as the Saints storm towards the finals with serious momentum after a 117-point smashing of Wanderers in round 18.

Paredes collected the fourth-highest number of touches during the home and away season – and the club’s most amount of inside 50s and clearances – while Calder shone up forward, with a league-high number of goals and the club’s most marks (68).

Jackson Calder slotted 58 goals during the home and away season. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Meanwhile, Kieran Parnell was the league’s most accurate kick (89 per cent) for players who had registered at least five games during the season.

Disposals

Nate Paredes 331

Nick Yarran 201

Lachlan Taylor 176

Henry Labastida 173

Dylan Landt 160

Marks

Jackson Calder 68

Nate Paredes 57

Henry Labastida 54

Zach Robinson 43

Lachlan Taylor 36

Goals

Jackson Calder 58

Nigel Lockyer Jnr 20

Nick Yarran 18

Nate Paredes 14

Joseph Salmon 11

Kicking efficiency

Kieran Parnell 89 per cent

Jacob Long 81 per cent

Shannon Rioli 79 per cent

Samuel Holna 77 per cent

Isaiah Baldock 70 per cent

Inside 50s

Nate Paredes 90

Dylan Landt 54

Nick Yarran 46

Lachlan Taylor 43

Joseph Salmon 39

Rebound50s

Jacob Long 46

Matt Wilkinson 37

Lucas Jellyman-Turner 25

Grant Gallus 25

Zach Robinson 23

Kieren Parnell 23

Nate Paredes will be the key man in the Saints’ finals campaign. Picture: Felicity Elliott.

Clearances

Nate Paredes 83

Dylant Landt 37

Henry Labastida 32

Jack Kluske 25

Nick Yarran 22

Shaun Edwards 22

Tackles

Nick Yarran 54

Nate Paredes 43

Zach Robinson 37

Jack Kluske 27

Jake Toa 25

MVP: Nate Paredes

Southern Districts

It has been a year of ups and downs for Districts but Michael Bowden remained ultra consistent.

Bowden placed top in the league for rebound 50s – an incredible 124 times – second for disposals and topped his side in kicking efficiency.

In recent rounds, however, Districts have found plenty of momentum with their forward line racking up the scores through the double threat of Leigh Williams and Jonathon Ross.

Ross in particular stands out across a number of stats, but both will be crucial if Districts are to go deep in finals.

Disposals

Michael Bowden 352

Jack Ganley 244

Frazer Driscoll 214

Jake McQueen 211

Jonathon Ross 191

Marks

Jack Ganley 71

Leigh Williams 68

Michael Bowden 57

Jake McQueen 56

Frazer Driscoll 55

Goals

Jonathon Ross 38

Leigh Williams 35

Jack Ganley 16

Josiah Farrer 16

Beau Schwarze 13

Dylan Barry 13

Kicking efficiency

Michael Bowden 75 per cent

Aron Morrish 75 per cent

Charles McAdam 73 per cent

Luke Delahey 73 per cent

Michael Duffy 72 per cent

Inside 50s

Jack Ganley 72

Jake McQueen 46

Jonathon Ross 40

Dean Staunton 39

Dylan Barry 37

Rebound 50s

Michael Bowden 124

Frazer Driscoll 79

Luke Delahey 43

Ethan Maney 33

Charles McAdam 32

Michael Bowden collected an amazing 124 rebounds from defensive 50 this season. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Clearances

Jack Ganley 35

Josiah Farrer 33

Dean Staunton 27

Patrick Gallow 25

Conor Bowden 23

Tackles

Dean Staunton 46

Jack Ganley 42

Frazer Driscoll 39

Michael Bowden 34

Jake McQueen 33

MVP: Michael Bowden

Waratah

It’s the top five which could go some way to explaining Nightcliff’s relatively easy defeat of the Tahs in round 18 by 35 points.

Without two of its most best goalkickers against the Tigers – Corey Rich and Cameron Arnold – Waratah struggled to kick a winning score at Gardens Oval, despite a bag of five from its most prolific forward in 2021-22, Jayden Magro (39 goals).

Waratah captain Brodie Carroll is the league’s top tackler. Picture: Warren Leyden.

Rich also charted in the club’s top five for marks (first) and disposals (fifth), underlining his importance to the club’s finals chances.

Disposals

Dylan Collis 313

Brodie Carroll 257

Jayden Magro 249

Robert Turnbull 247

Corey Rich 204

Marks

Corey Rich 82

Jayden Magro 68

Dylan Collis 63

Jake Bowd 57

Brodie Carroll 55

Goals

Jayden Magro 39

Corey Rich 24

Brodie Carroll 18

Harrison Kitschke 18

Cameron Arnold 13

Kicking efficiency

Dom Booth 77 per cent

Amya Ross 77 pe cent

Nicholas Gooch 74 per cent

Zach Griffiths 74 per cent

Daniel O’Dwyer 71 per cent

Jake Bowd 71 per cent

Inside 50s

Jayden Magro 79

Robbie Turnbull 60

Dylan Collis 50

Brodie Carroll 49

Abe Ankers 39

Rebound 50s

Jake Bowd 60

Daniel O’Dwyer 56

Dylan Collis 41

Amyas Ross 36

Joel Crocker 28

East Perth product Jayden Magro has been a great recruit for Waratah. Picture: Warren Leyden.

Clearances

Robert Turnbull 50

Brodie Carroll 46

Thomas Cree 33

Abe Ankers 33

Joel Stevens 32

Tackles

Brodie Carroll 64

Dylan Collis 43

Jayden Magro 39

Robbie Turnbull 32

Tom Cree 31

MVP: Jayden Magro

Wanderers

Werribee recruit Brodie Newman is thought to be irreplaceable in the Eagles line up, and the numbers back up that theory.

Newman not only charted fourth in the club’s most disposals count, he pulled in the most marks, and intercept grabs, for the league.

The stats also underline the Eagles’ tight yet polished defence, with Newman, Mitchel Taylor and Lloyd Johnston all going at 72 per cent or better with kicking efficiency.

However, the club’s reliance on leading goalkicker Eddie Simpson (38 majors) – who has been absent since the Christmas break – could be exposed in finals with the next best being Keelan Fejo’s 16.

Disposals

Jarred Erlandson 262

Marcus Totham 254

Daniel Clee 250

Brodie Newman 220

Beau O’Connell 220

Marks

Brodie Newman 95

Daniel Clee 78

Daniel Weetra 65

Braedon McLean 62

Thomas Motlop 58

Goals

Eddie Simpson 38

Keelan Fejo 16

Darren Shillabeer 13

Beau O’Connell 8

John Tipiloura 8

Brodie Newman was the NTFL's intercept king in 2021-22. Picture: Tymunna Clements.

Kicking efficiency

Mitchel Taylor 78 per cent

Alexander Weetra 75 per cent

Daniel Weetra 75 per cent

Brodie Newman 73 per cent

Nathan Jones-Cubillo 73 per cent

Insides 50s

Beau O’Connell 60

Marcus Totham 49

Keelan Fejo 39

Warwick Williams 38

Jobastin Priest 35

Rebound 50s

Brodie Newman 59

Daniel Weetra 58

Mitchel Taylor 54

Lloyd Johnston 44

Braedon McLean 29

Clearances

Jarred Erlandson 49

Matthew Motlop 33

Daniel Clee 26

Jereome Motlop 25

Marcus Totham 24

Tackles

Daniel Clee 46

Matt Motlop 42

Joel Cubillo 42

Keelan Fejo 41

Jarred Erlandson 31

MVP: Brodie Newman

Palmerston

A quick glance at Palmerston’s stats will tell you one thing — Eric Guthrie is a gun.

Guthrie not only features in just about every statistical benchmark for his club, but tops them, gathering pole position in disposals, marks, inside 50s, clearances and tackles.

His disposal game was one of utmost importance to his side and something that was noticed whenever he was absent from the squad.

The stats overwhelmingly show Eric Guthrie is Palmerston’s most valuable player. Picture: Felicity Elliott / AFLNT Media

The 2020-21 Rising Star winner Ryan Warfe also pops up across plenty of statistical divisions, and is one who continues to improve his game in the Magpies midfield.

Disposals

Eric Guthrie 305

Ryan Warfe 208

Max Sutton 193

Steven Lampton 185

Lennon Marlin 180

Marks

Eric Guthrie 64

Steven Lampton 55

Ryan Warfe 52

Liam Flanagan 49

Chris Williams 47

Goals

Daniel Stafford 28

Eddie Betts 13

Chris Williams 10

Justin Cooper 8

Waylon Davey 8

Kicking efficiency

Josh Hollamby 85 per cent

Liam Flanagan 74 per cent

Ryan Warfe 73 per cent

Alwyn Davey 71 per cent

Lennon Marlin 67 per cent

Inside 50s

Eric Guthrie 69

Chris Williams 34

Steven Lampton 28

Luke Meadows 28

Max Sutton 28

Rebound 50s

Lennon Marlin 55

Liam Flanagan 36

Eric Guthrie 35

Alwyn Davey 26

Clarence Baird 24

Ryan Warfe battles for the ball with Marcus Totham of Wanderers. Picture: Tymunna Clements.

Clearances

Eric Guthrie 77

Max Sutton 37

William Rowbottom 31

Chris Williams 28

Luke Meadows 22

Tackles

Eric Guthrie 55

Max Sutton 40

Ryan Warfe 37

Kallyn Groves 25

Chris Williams 24

MVP: Eric Guthrie

Tiwi Bombers

The Bombers haven’t played as many games as other clubs due to Covid difficulties, but there have still been some clear standouts.

Magic man Dion Munkara had plenty of the football, gathering 191 disposals, while also topping the clearances, inside 50s and rebound 50s.

The newly-recruited Kim Kantilla was also regularly in his side’s best, collecting the most goals and marks while also performing well in disposals and inside 50s.

The side was perhaps most let down by their lack of a consistent scorer outside of Kantilla, who shone when he managed to get the ball in his hands.

Disposals

Dion Munkara 191

Kim Kantilla 143

Nicholas Hooker 117

Harley Puruntatameri 103

Brendan Kantilla 99

Marks

Kim Kantilla 56

Michael Thompson 36

Michael Dunn 31

Brendan Kantilla 29

Dion Munkara 28

Goals

Kim Kantilla 23

Anthony Munkara 9

Harley Puruntatameri 6

Paulinis Tipungwuti 6

Michael Thompson 5

Kicking efficiency

David Kruse 79 per cent

Brendan Kantilla 78 per cent

Nicholas Hooker 73 per cent

Aidan McAdam 68 per cent

Shane Austral 66 per cent

Inside 50s

Dion Munkara 49

Kim Kantilla 29

Harley Puruntatameri 22

Michael Thompson 21

Paulinis Tipungwuti 18

Rebound 50s

Dion Munkara 38

Nicholas Hooker 38

Brendan Kantilla 26

Shane Austral 23

David Kruse 19

Dion Munkara topped four statistical yardsticks for Tiwi. Picture: Michael Franchi.

Clearances

Dion Munkara 24

Edward Puruntatameri 21

Harley Puruntatameri 20

Nicholas Hooker 16

Kim Kantilla 15

Tackles

Nicholas Hooker 22

Brendan Kantilla 21

Doug Cunningham 20

Dion Munkara 19

Kim Kantilla 19

MVP: Dion Munkara

Originally published as The NTFL’s best players for the 2021-22 season by the stats revealed